AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS & MANAGEMENT · analytical methods were performed to determine soil colour (SC), pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus

AGRICULTURAL�SYSTEMS�&�MANAGEMENT

SESSION�4

POTENTIAL TO EXPAND THE CUT FLOWER INDUSTRY AMONG RURAL HOUSEWIVES IN BANDARAWELA, SRI LANKA

S.H.T.N. De Silva and A.M.K.R. Bandara

Department of Agricultural Systems, Faculty of Agriculture, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

Cut flowers, which are traded worldwide, have always been the main commodity group within global floricultural trade. The demand for cut flowers is increasing in domestic as well as export markets annually while the world supply is insufficient to satisfy the requirement. In Sri Lanka, flowers are grown commercially in the Western, North Western and Central Provinces. However, the current production is very low and less number of farmers involve in producing cut flowers in commercial scale. This study examined the potential in expanding the cut flower industry in order to increase the income of rural housewives in Bandarawela area. The objectives of this study were to identify the resource availability,limitations and perception of housewives in relation to cut flowers production as a commercial venture. A random sample of 250 housewives were selected from five Grama Niladhari divisions in Bandarawela area. Socio-economic data were collected using a semi structured, pre-tested questionnaire. A multinomial logistic regression model was fitted to identify the factors affecting the production of cut flowers. The results revealed that 56% of respondents were willing to produce cut flowers with organizational support while another 29% were willing to produce cut flowers without organizational support. Estimated logistic regression modal indicated that perception on cut flower production among housewives increases with education level (OR=7.328), household size (OR=1.947), knowledge (OR=999.99), upland extent (OR=687.82), water availability (OR=2.291), and fertilizer availability (OR=11.701).The study concludes that, cut flower production in Banadarawela area of Sri Lanka could be increased by having effective extension service; educating the housewives about the industry; increasing accessibility to water and fertilizer and increasing the availably of uplands.

Keywords: Cut flowers, Housewives, Multinomial logistic regression, Perception

Agricultural Economics and Extension

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SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT OF PADDY MONOCULTURE AND PADDY- MAIZE ROTATION SYSTEMS IN ANURADHAPURA

DISTRICT, SRI LANKA

N.G.P. Liyanage, S.P. Dissanayaka and G.A.S. Ginigaddara


Agricultural sustainability assessment is necessary for scientific understanding of policy and planning for sustainable agricultural development. Majority of the Sri Lankan farmers face difficulties in their cultivation, specially paddy and maize. Therefore, this study attempted to assess the sustainability of paddy monoculture and paddy-maize rotation systems through developing indicators for economic, social and environmental sustainability in Anuradhapura district. Three stage stratified random sampling method was utilized to select 100 farmers in each farming system. A pre-tested questionnaire survey was conducted to collect data. Descriptive analysis and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the data. Result showed that most of respondents were males (89% and 99%), married (89% and 99%) and had completed their secondary education (41% and 57%) in paddy monoculture and paddy-maize rotation system respectively. Majority of farmer's primary occupation was farming in both farming systems. Consequently, farmers' average annual agricultural income was LKR 68,364.00 (per acre) in paddy monoculture farming system and LKR 166,770.00 (per acre) in paddy-maize rotation farming system. According to the Total Sustainability Index (TSI), 72% farmers for paddy monoculture farming system and 83% farmers for paddy-maize rotation farming system were sustainable {TSI = (0.5-1)}. Regression result revealed that cost of production per acre, off farm income, distance to public infrastructure, chemical usage per acre, level of integrated pest management for paddy monoculture farming system and total on farm income per acre, distance to public infrastructure, agrochemical per acre, level of integrated pest management for paddy-maize rotation farming system were significantly (p<0.05) influencing on sustainability. Study concludes that both paddy-maize rotation system and paddy monoculture farming system are sustainable while the paddy-maize rotation farming system reflects higher sustainability in Anuradhapura district, Sri Lanka.

Keywords: Paddy- maize rotation farming system, Paddy monoculture farming system, Sustainability

Agricultural Systems and Management

ADOPTION OF ORGANIC FARMING PRACTICES IN BATTICALOA DISTRICT, SRI LANKA

N.N.W.Arachchi, G.A.S.Ginigaddara and S.P.Dissanayaka


Although organic farming (OF) is an ecologically and economically sustainable form of agriculture, its adoption rate is still very low among farmers in Sri Lanka. This study was conducted in Batticaloa district, Sri Lanka to determine the present situation of adoption and to identify the factors affecting OF practices. Both non- organic and organic farmers (50 from each) were selected via simple random sampling method and interviewed using pre-tested questionnaires. A binary logistic regression model and a SWOT analysis for the adoption of organic farming were used for data analysis. According to the results, majority of the organic respondents were women (60%) and 44% had acquired at least primary education. Majority of the organic respondents had adopted climate smart organic farming. Organic manure usage (98%), application of compost (84%), maintaining buffer zone for the farm (78%) and integration of crop and livestock (66%) were recognized as mostly adopted climate smart agricultural practices by the organic respondents. According to the SWOT analysis, availability of land and knowledge on preparation of natural pesticide and fertilizers were identified as strengths and lack of credit, limitation in finding raw material were identified as weaknesses. Having a growing market for organic products and availability of effective extension services were the opportunities identified while climate change and poor infrastructure facilities were the potential threats for adopting OF. Study revealed that environmental concern (OR=13.46), farming experience (OR=1.12), average monthly income (OR=0.99), age (OR=0.92) and access to market (OR=0.07) as factors significantly (P<0.05) affecting adoption on OF while educational level (OR=0.22) is significantly affecting at P<0.1 when compared to non-organic farmers. There are adequate strengths and opportunities to expand organic agricultural practices in Batticaloa district. Therefore it is recommended to have well-planned awareness programs and develop agriculture infrastructure of the district to improve the adoption rate of organic farming.

Keywords: Batticaloa, Climate smart agriculture, Organic farming, SWOT

analysis


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FACTORS AFFECTING ON WILLINGNESS TO PURCHASE ORGANIC FOODS: A CASE STUDY IN BATTICALOA DISTRICT, SRI LANKA

H.K.D. Priyangika, G.A.S. Ginigaddara and S.P. Dissanayaka


Organic food consumption is increasing among Sri Lankan consumers from the recent past as they are more conscious on food safety, health and environment along with nutritive value, taste, freshness and appearance of the food they consume. This study was conducted to determine factors affecting the buyer's willingness to purchase organic products and market potential for organic food products in Batticaloa District. Simple random sampling technique was used to select the sample and a pre-tested questionnaire survey was employed to collect primary data from 50 organic and 50 non-organic products buyers. Binary logistic regression was used to analyse collected data. A SWOT analysis was conducted for the organic market in Batticaloa district. The results revealed that quality of the organic products (OR =121.07), presence of non- communicable diseases (OR= 6.28), number of household members (OR= 0.36) and nutritional value of the organic foods (OR= 0.02) significantly (p<0.05) influenced the buying decision of organic product buyers whereas gender of the respondent (OR=24.59) was significantly affecting on the decision at p<0.1. The SWOT analysis implied that identified niche market for organic products, diversity of commodities and provision of fresh, healthy, village produced organic foods as strengths and unavailability of up-country organic vegetables and lack of marketing promotion as the weaknesses. Favourable government vision and rising demand for organic products highlighted the future potentials and opportunities for organic market. Competition from central market and street sellers, and extreme weather conditions were the main threats identified. The study concludes that the quality of the organic products as the main decision making factor considered by organic- buyers in Batticaloa district in Sri Lanka. These findings would help to understand the underlining buying behaviour of organic buyers and the potentials of the organic market in Batticaloa district.

Keywords: Batticaloa, Buyers willingness, Market potential, Organic products


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EFFECTS OF Gliricidia sepium AND Arachis pintoi ON CINNAMON GROWING SOIL

1 2 1T.I.N. De Silva , D.N .Samaraweera ,G.A.S.Ginigaddara , 2 1

K.H.G.M.Tharanga , A.N. Kodithuwakku

1Department of Agricultural Systems,Faculty of Agriculture ,Rajarata University

of Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.2 Division of Soil and Plant Nutrition, National Cinnamon Research and

Training Center, Department of Export Agriculture, Thihagoda, Sri Lanka.

A study was undertaken at spice garden Middeniya to examine the selected properties of cinnamon(Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume) growing soil as influenced by growing Gliricidia sepium (GS) and Arachis pintoi (AP). Six treatments namely, T1(Control)- cinnamon + recommended dosage of fertilizer

-1 -1(RDF), T2- cinnamon + organic manure (20 t ha yr ), T3- cinnamon + single row GS + 50% RDF, T4- cinnamon + double row GS + 50% RDF, T5- cinnamon + triple row GS + 50% RDF and T6- cinnamon +AP + 50% RDF were used with triplicates. Soil samples were collected monthly from 0-15cm soil depth. Standard soil analytical methods were performed to determine soil colour (SC), pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus (P), exchangeable potassium (K), available sulphur (S), biomass carbon (BC), microbial activity (MA), biomass nitrogen (BN) and vascular arbuscular mycorrhyzae (VAM) spores. Stem height and diameter of cinnamon were measured as growth parameters. MA was significantly increased in all the treatments compared to control. A significant effect (P<0.05) of all tested chemical parameters except S, P and K contents was observed in all treatments compared to control. Nitrogen content in all other treatments was significantly higher (P<0.05) compared to control (0.38 % ± 0.07). Among the tested biological properties, BC and BN elicited significant increase (p<0.05) in all other testaments compared to

2 control. VAM count was higher in T6 (2.10 g/mm ± 0.22) but was not significantly different with other treatments (P>0.05). Significant improvement in growth was observed in all treatments (P< 0.05) compared to control. In conclusion, Cinnamon can be cultivated with half recommended dose of chemical fertilizers with incorporated legumes and organic matter at Middeniya of Sri Lanka.

Keywords: Arachis pintoi, Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Blume), Gliricidia sepium,

Soil properties


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SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT OF LOW INPUT PADDY- LIVESTOCK INTEGRADED FARMING SYSTEM IN

ANURADHAPURA DISTRICT, SRI LANKA

H.S.C.Hemarathna, S.P.Dissanayaka and G.A.S Ginigaddara


Sustainable development in agriculture pays more attention to integrated farming systems with crops, animals, soils, water and other management practices. Paddy and livestock integration is prominent system in the dry zone of Sri Lanka which escalates the socio-economic environment and well being of the farmers. Hence this study attempted to evaluate aggregate economic, social and environmental sustainability of the paddy livestock farming system in Anuradhapura district. Stratified random sampling method was occupied to select 100 farmers from three divisional secretariat divisions. Data were analyzed descriptively and quantitatively. According to the results, 83% were males, 98% were married and 84% reported having moderate housing facilities. Many respondents (46%) attended to formal secondary education followed by primary education (28%) respectively. Many farmer families (46%) consisted with four household members in average. Paddy farming was dominant (80%) as the primary occupation while rearing cattle was a supplementary income source. Mean age of the respondents was 48 years with LKR 264,356.00 seasonal income per acre in average. Further, majority of respondents (92%) cultivated 2.5 acres of their own lands in average. Of all respondents, 86% did not maintain separate pasture lands for their animals. According to Total Sustainability Index (TSI), 86% of farmers were under the sustainable category. Regression results revealed that education level, total household income, total cost of production per acre, total profit per acre, women's participation, level of good agricultural practices, level of integrated pest management, distance for agrarian service centers and crop rotation significantly (p<0.05) influence the sustainability of paddy livestock farming system. The study enfold that paddy livestock integration system in Anuradhapura district is sustainable, but need more intensification with improved breeds, concentrated feed, farmers' awareness and extension facilities for further development.

Keywords: Farming system, Paddy livestock integration, Sustainability


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ROLE OF WOMEN IN HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY THROUGH HOME GARDENING: A CASE STUDY ON KANDYAN HOME

GARDENS OF SRI LANKA

1 2 1B.P.T.Madushika , K.W.H.A. N. Somarathne and G.A.S. Ginigaddara

1Department of Agricultural Systems, Faculty of Agriculture, Rajarata

University of Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.2Australian College of Business and Technology, Kandy, Sri Lanka.

Home gardening is a proven way of household food security. There were only few micro level studies were done which analyzed food security and women's role at household level in the Sri Lankan context. Hence, this study examined the women's role in home gardening for assuring household food security using a sample of 130 women (home gardeners and non-home-gardeners) selected from households in Medadumbara divisional secretariat in Kandy. Multistage sampling and snow ball sampling were used to select the sample size and unit of data collection, respectively. A pre-tested questionnaire was administered for data collection. Data was analyzed descriptively and statistically. The Household Dietary Diversity Scale was used to measure household food security. There were nine socio-economic factors of women studied as variables affecting household food security. The results revealed a higher dietary diversity among home-gardeners (µ=7.4923) compared to the medium dietary diversity among non-home-gardeners (µ=5.692). Among home-gardeners, 45% have occupations while it was 84% among non-home gardeners. A 59% of women sell foods from the home gardens and 95% of that income spends to purchase foods unavailable at household. Monthly expenditure is low among home-gardeners compared to non-home gardeners (P<0.05). Lower food expenses range per month (µ 7474, µ 10408) and higher t= c=

saving range per month (µ =4508, µ =3168) were recorded in home gardener t c

sample compared to non-home gardener sample, respectively. According to the regression analysis, education level and monthly income significantly affected the household food security in both samples. Furthermore, non-home-gardeners' household food security depended very strongly (r = 0.93669) on monthly income s

while it was lesser among home-gardeners (r = 0.60892). These findings confirm s

the importance of home gardens in household food security while highlighting the role of women who contribute to food production, earning income, dietary quality and consumption diversity. Therefore the food security policies should facilitate capacity development among women for home gardening.

Keywords: Economic value of women, Home gardening, Household food security,

Women's role


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SPATIAL VARIATION OF CROPPING SYSTEMS AND WEED DIVERSITY ALONG TANK CASCADES: A CASE STUDY IN THIRAPPANE TANK CASCADE SYSTEM IN SRI LANKA

1 2 1S.P.N.H. Jayaweera , P.B. Dharmasena and G.A.S. Ginigaddara

1Department of Agricultural Systems, Faculty of Agriculture, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

2Field Crop Research and Development Institute, Mahailluppallama, Sri lanka.

The land use associated with tank cascades demonstrates a challenging environment, essentially transformed from a natural ecosystem into an agro-ecosystem, which leads to create diverse cropping systems and variation in weed diversity. There is no organized information or researches on variation of cropping systems and weed diversity of irrigated lowlands and uplands along the tank cascade systems. Present study aimed to identify the spatial variation of prominent cropping systems and weed diversity along the Thirappane tank cascade system in dry zone of Sri Lanka. A questionnaire survey was used to identify variation of cropping systems and field survey was used to determinine variation of weed diversity. Quadrate method was used obtaining weed samples. A sample of 150 farmers and 24 farmer fields were selected from the cascade system representing its total population. Chi-square test and descriptive methods were used to analyze data. Weed diversity was analyzed using Simpson's Diversity Index and Shannon Wiener Index. Maize-sesame (36%) and sesame-long bean (30%) were identified as prominent cropping systems among the recorded six cropping systems. Maize-sesame (36%) was reported as the most prominent cropping system along the cascade. Both Simpson's Diversity Index and Shannon Wiener Index indicated relatively higher values (0.62 to 0.79 and 1.02 to 1.46 respectively) representing rich diversity of the weed population in rice fields. Chi-square test proved that weed diversity is significantly (P<0.001) varied along the cascade system. Further, the results revealed that the most dominant weed species in the upper tank and lower tank area is Welhiriya (Cyperus difformis) while middle tank area is highly affected with Batadella (Isachne globosa). In conclusion, there is a significant variation of weed diversity while not having a significant variation of cropping system along the Thirappane tank cascade system in Sri Lanka. The generated information would be beneficial in fulfilling the existing research gap and further developing agricultural activities in the cascade.

Keywords: Cropping pattern, Diversity indices, Tank cascade system, Weed

diversity


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IDENTIFICATION OF FARMING SYSTEMS IN MAHAWELI SYSTEM “H” IN SRI LANKA

G.M.M. Kalhari, G.A.S. Ginigaddara and A.N. Kodithuwakku


Mahaweli Development Programme is one of the country's bigger investments in the agricultural sector. Although Mahaweli system H (MH) is comprised of different farming systems, adequate studies have not been conducted to recognize them. The main objective of this study was to identify the existing farming systems in MH. Three hundrad farmers were selected representing entire MH using stratified random sampling technique. Data was collected using pre-tested and structured questionnaire from three blocks representing upper (Mahailuppallama), middle (Thambuththegama) and lower (Nochchiyagama) ends of MH. Chi-square test and descriptive methods were used to analyze data. Results revealed that cropping patterns in MH had frequently changed during last five years due to water scarcity. Significant variations in both cropping patterns (p=0.0000) and cropping systems (p=0.0000) among the upper, middle and lower blocks of the system was recorded. Rice mono-cropping, rice-low country vegetables, rice-root and tubers and rice-oil seed crops were identified as prominent cropping patterns in MH. Rice mono-cropping was identified as the major cropping pattern in both Thambuththegama (40%) and Nochchiyagama (18%) blocks while that was rice-root and tuber crops in Mahailuppallama (13%) block. Rice mono-cropping was identified as the most commonly practiced cropping system in both Mahailuppallama (52%) and Thambuththegama (20%) while that was rice-law country vegetables in Nochchiyagama (19%) block. Rice cultivation with cattle rearing was the prominent farming system in the selected three locations (Nochchiyagama 11%, Thambuththegama 5% and Mahailuppallama 4%). Identification of most prominent farming system, cropping pattern and system is essential and cooperative in developing appropriate and efficient productivity plans to get maximum output from a given land. Hence type of studies would be helpful for the other areas of the Mahaweli system in Sri Lanka.

Keywords: Cropping pattern, Cropping system, Farming system, Mahaweli H


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AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS & MANAGEMENT · analytical methods were performed to determine soil colour (SC), pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus